Exhaust polarizing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for polarizing exhaust gases. A polarizing container having an inlet and an outlet is connected to a source of compressed air. An igniter is mounted to the container and extends therein. Thermal electrical coils are mounted within the container perpendicular to the flow of exhaust gases through the container. The thermal electrical coils heat the exhaust gases which are combined with the compressed air and ignited. Deflectors are mounted within the container for guiding the flow of exhaust gases. An induction coil connected to a source of direct current electrical energy has a core with movable contact and controls the igniter.

United States Patent 1 Culp I EXHAUST POLARIZING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Norris B. Culp, 202 S. Third Ave.,

Beechgrove, Ind. 46107 [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 108,852

FOREIGN. PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France 60/30 R 1 Nov. 6, 1973 Primary Examiner-Douglas Hart Att0rneyWoodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for polarizing exhaust gases. A polarizing container having an inlet and an outlet is connected to a source of compressed air. An igniter is mounted to the container and extends therein. Thermal electrical coils are mounted within the container perpendicular to the flow of exhaust gases through the container. The thermal electrical coils heat the exhaust gases which are combined with the compressed air and ignited. Deflectors are mounted within the container for guiding the flow of exhaust gases. An induction coil connected to a source of direct current electrical energy has a core with movable contact and controls the igniter.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Nov. 6, 1973 ,7 9

J M A A I5 34 U I 34, I 310 52 Fig.

INVENTOR 32 A/Okk/S [IL/LP BY Maha a/M1 A1" TORNEY3 EXHAUST POLARIZING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of afterburners.

2. Description of the Prior Art Air pollution is essentially the increase,of unstable hydrocarbons and the decrease of available oxygen. The gasoline or diesel engines have contributed to the greatest degree in the area of air pollutiondue to the fact that such engines are inefficient to the level that they throw off many unburned hydrocarbons into the atmosphere. The unburned hydrocarbons react with oxygen to form unstable compounds, often referred to as smoke-smog or pollution. In addition, variousindustrial sources as well as neighborhood trash burners expel a large amount of hydrocarbons. It is therefore desirable to eliminate or reduce the amount of hydrocarbons expelled into the atmosphere.

One method utilized to reduce the level of hydrocar-' bons expelled into the atmosphere is to create a greater burning of exhaust gases having hydrocarbons, therein thereby increasing the formation-of carbon dioxide, decreasing the formation of carbon monoxide and de stroying lead and sulphur compounds. Several devices have'been provided to reduce the level of hydrocarbons and are disclosed in the following US. Pats. No. 3.059,422 issued to White: No. 3,172,251 issued to Johnson: No. 3,201,033 issued to Baden; No 3,214,902 issued to Maring; and, No. 3,285,709 issued to IVl any of these devices are relatively complex and are expensive to produce and operate. The present invention provides an apparatus which is an improvement over the prior art being relatively inexpensive to produce and operate and also being relatively less complex as compared to the prior art devices. The present invention provides for a greater reduction inthe hydrocarbons contained in exhaust gases as compared to the above devices. This additional reduction has been ac-' complished byarranging thermal electrical coils perpendicular to-the direction of flow of the exhaust gases which are combined with compressed air and ignited. The ignition is controlled by an improvedinduction coil.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an apparatus for polarizing exhaust gases comprising a polarizing container having a first and second end wall, the first end wall having an inlet and the second end wall having an outlet, a source of compressed air connected to the container, a source I of direct current electrical energy, an induction coil having a core with primary and secondary windings thereon, the primary windings being connected to the source of electrical energy, the coil having a spring biased movable contact connected to'the primary windings and movable against the core when the core' is magnetized, an igniter mounted to the container and projecting therein, the igniter being connected to the secondary windings, and theremal electrical coils mounted within the container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for polarizing exhaust gases by heating the gases with thermal electrical coils arranged perpendicularly to the flow of the gases and by also combining compressed air with the gases and by then igniting the gases.

It is an additional object of the present invention to to provide an improved apparatus for treating exhaust gases which is relatively simple and inexpensive to operate and to produce.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide an exhaust polarizing apparatus having new and improved means for controlling the ignition of exhaust gases.

Related object and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a symbolic diagram of an apparatus incorporating the present invention shown connected in an automobile exhaust system. 7

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the polarizing container 18 illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic of thhe induction coil 15 shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the-invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in theillustrateddevice, and such further'applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a diagram of an exhaust system for an automobile. Exhaust system 11 connected to the automobile internal combustion engine 10 has a conventional muffler 12 with an outlet end l3 'for expelling the exhaust gases into the atmosphere. A polarizin'g container 18 incorporating the present invention is connected to the exhaust system between the engine 10 and muffler l2. Thus,'the exhaust gases from the engine flow through container 18, muffler l2 and thereby exit outlet 13. A source of compressed air 14 is connected to container 18 by pipe 16. In addition, an induction coil 15 is connected to an igniter mounted to container 18. Cable 17 encloses the electrical wiring between coil 15 and the igniter of container 18.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the polarizing container 18. The container has a main tubular body 19 being capped on both ends by end walls 10 and 21. An inlet 22 is provided on end wall 20 for receiving the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine whereas an outlet 23 is provided on end wall 21 for routing the burned exhaust gases to muffler 12. A pair of inlet deflector plates 24 are secured to the inlet side of container 18 so as to prevent the gases within the container from flowing backward out of the container to the engine. In addition, deflector plate 25 is mounted to the outlet side of container 18 to prevent exhaust gases from the muffler from flowing into container 18.

' End walls 20 and 21 may be secured to body 19 by any suitable fastening means such as welding. The deflector plates. 24 and 25 may also be welded to end walls 20 and 21.

A series of thermal electrical coils 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d and 26e are mounted within container 18 so as to extend across the container being parallel with end walls 20 and 21 and perpendicular to the flow of exhaust gases which flow in the direction of arrow 44. The thermal electrical coils are connected in series to a source of electrical energy not shown. Insulating pads 45 secured to tubular body 19 by standard fastening devices each receive an end of a thermal electrical coil. For example, coil 26c ismounted to insulating pads 45a and 45b which are identical to pads 45. Pads 45a and 45b prevent the electrical energy flowing through coil 26c from short circuiting to body 19. coils 26b and 26d are mounted in a manner similar to coil 26c whereas the two end coils 26a and 26e have an end extending through tubular body 19. for example, end 51 of coil 26a mounted to pad 45 which is'identical to pad 45a. The opposite end 47 of coil 26a extends through body 19 and is connected to a source of electrical energy. Likewise, end 46 of coil 26e extends through body 19 and is also connected to the source of electrical energy. As previously mentioned, the coils are'connected in series. Coil 26a is connected to coil 26b by wire 48 whereas coil 26b isconnected to coil 26c by wire 49.

Coils 26c and 26d are connected by wire 50 and coils 26d and 26e are connected by a wire not shown. Thus, when ends 46 and 47 are connected to a source of electrical energy, the electrical energy will flow through all of the coils being connected in series thereby producing heat within container 18. The ends of the coils may be secured to the insulating pads by a variety of means such as bysoldering. It is understood that the coilsmay be connected in a variety of different ways within the container and that the previous description is just but one example.

igniter 27 is mounted to body 19 and extends into the container. igniter 27 has a threaded shank 28 extending throughbody'19 and being secured thereto by hexagonally shaped nut 29. The end of igniter 27 positioned within the container has a first contact 30 spaced apart current electrical energy 32. .An on-off switch 33 is connected between thesource of electrical energy and the primary windings to control the flow of current therethrough. Ends 41 and 42 of secondary windings 36 are each connected through cable 17 to one of the contacts 30 and 31 of igniter 27. Induction coil 15 has a spring biased movable contact 37 connected to'primary windings 35 by wire 43. In addition, a capacitor 38 is connected to primary 35 between movable contact 37 and the source of direct current electrical energy 32. A fixed contact 39 is connected to the primary windings between capacitor 38 and electrical energy source 32. When core 34 is unenergized, spring 40 which is connected to movable contact 37 biases the movable contact so as to force wire 43 to touch fixed contact 39. After the core 34 has energized developing a magnetic field,contact 37 is attracted to the magnetic primary windings are connected to a source of direct 50.

field in the direction of arrow 54 so that surface 52 of contact 37 touches end 53 of core 34 thereby providing a path for the energy within the core. The core then demagnetizes causing a rapid change of flux through the secondary windings and the production of a large electromotive force through wires 41 and 42 to. contacts 30 and 31 of the igniter.- Subsequent to the demagnetization of the core, spring 40 returns contact 37 until continuity is made with fixed contact 39. With wire 43 touching contact 39, the rate of flux developed by the coil is relatively small and the induced electromotive source is insufficient to provide a spark across contacts 30 and 31. When continuity is broken between wire 43 and contact 39 at location 55 and contact 37 touches core 34, thhe magnetic field is destroyed quickly and the electromotive developed through wires 41 and 42 is very large resulting in a'spark across contacts 30 and 31. Whenever wire 43 touches contact 39 the flow of current circumvents capacitor 38. Eventually, the magnetic field of the coil is-sufficient to attract movable contact 37 toward core 34 thereby breaking the flow of current through wire 43 to contact 39 and charging ca pacitor 38. This sudden stop of flow of current results in. the production of a very high magnetic field within the coil allowing for a relatively large electromotive force to be applied to wires 41 and 42 so as to provide a spark between contacts 31 and 32. Subsequent to the contacts 30 and 31 providing a spark, the magnetic field within the coils is reduced to the extent that movable contact 37 is pulled back by spring 40 so as to allow wire 43 to touch contact39. The process is then repeated. Thus, the gases flowing into container 18 are combined with air from compressor 14, heated bycoils 26a through 26e and then ignited by igniter 15, thereby polarizing the gases-and allowing gases of a generally unpolluted nature to pass from the container.

Due to the extremely high temperatures within the polarizing container, it has been determined that thermal electrical coils 26a through 26e can be produced from tungsten. The housing of the polarizing container will necessarily have to be of porcelain or ceramic and coated or covered with heat-resistant material. Compressor 14- should be capable of producing an air pres sure up to approximately 25 pounds per square inch.

Of cource, a variety of designs of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings are contemplated and included by the present invention and by this specification. The

invention disclosed herein has many other applications in addition to combining the invention with an automotive internal combustion engine as previously described. For example, the induction coil and igniter shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be utilized to ignite a heated fluid for burning various trash materials such as those disposed by a manufacturing plant or a neighborhood community. The induction coil and igniter could also be packaged into various items such as trash burners, heating furnanc'es, air conditioners, and boilers.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description,the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restricted in. character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:'

1. An electro-thermal pollution polarizing apparatus a polarizing container mountable to said pipe and having a first end wall with an inlet and a second end wall with an outlet parallel to said first end wall, said container having a side wall extending therearound with said first end wall and said second end wall mounted thereto;

a source of compressed air connected to said container;

a source of direct current electrical energy;

an induction coil having a core with primary and secondary windings thereon, saiid primary windings being connected to said source of electrical energy, said coil having a spring biased movable contact connected to said primary windings and movable against said core when said core is magnetized;

an igniter mounted to said container and projecting therein, said igniter being connected to said secondary windings; and,

thermal electrical coils mounted within said container being parallel with said end walls;

a pair of inlet deflectors mounted within said container each having a proximal end secured immediately adjacent said first end wall and said side wall, said deflectors have opposed distal ends between which said gases flow, said deflectors project inwardly toward said inlet and away from said first end wall; and,

an outlet deflector plate mounted within said container and having a proximal end secured immediately adjacent said second end wall and said second side wall, said outlet deflector projects across said outlet and away from said secured end wall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said thermal electrical coils are mounted in series and exposed in direct contact with said exhaust gases; and,

said apparatus is in combination with an automobile having an internal combustion engine with said exhaust pipe and a mufi'ler, said apparatus is connected to said exhaust pipe between said engine and said muffler;

said container is tubular shaped and is of ceramic material; and further comprising:

a capacitor connected to said primary windings between said movable contact and said source of electrical energy;

a fixed contact connected to said primary windings between said capacitor and said source of direct electrical energy;

a spring biasing said movable contact away from said core;

an on-off switch connected to said primary windings;

an air pipe mounted to said side wall in a direction perpendicular to the flow of said gases from said inlet to said outlet and being connected to said source of compressed air; and,

a plurality of insulating pads mounted in said container to said side wall with each of said pads having at least one of said thermal coils mounted thereto and projecting inwardly in said container.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE QER'IIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent 3 .769 799 Dated November 6 i973 lnve t fl Norris B. Culp It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 1, line 63, please change "theremal" to -thermal- In column 2 line 54 after the word "walls" and before the word "and" please change "10" to -20- In column 3, line 13, before "26b" please capitalize "coils".

In column 3 line 16 before the word "example" please capitalize HfO -H a In column 3, line 60 after the word "primary" and before "35" please insert windings In column 4, line 15, please delete "thhe" and insert -the--.

In column 5, line 14,, please delete "saiid" and insert --said--.

In column 6,'line 3, please delete "secured" and insert -sec0nd-.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of March 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM PO-IOSO (I069) USCOMM-DC 60376-P59 n) 9 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 0-366-334 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 769 799 J Dated N b Q 1 913 Invent r( Norris B. Culp It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 1, line 63, please change "theremal" to --thermal.

In column 2, line 54 after the word "walls" and before the word "and" please change "10" to 20-.

In column 3, line 13, before "26b" please capitalize "coils".

In column 3, line 16, before the word "example" please capitalize "for" a I In column 3, line 60, after the word "primary"- and before "35" please insert -windings p r I In column 4, line 15, please delete "thhe" and insert --the-.

In column 5, line 14,, please delete "saiid" and insert "said-m In column 6, line 3, please delete "secured" and insert -second--. I

Signed and sealed this 19th day of March 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

I EDWARD M.PLETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents :ORM PO-1050 (1 USCOMM-DC scan-Pee U,S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIC i: I969 O 

1. An electro-thermal pollution polarizing apparatus for polarizing exhaust gases from an engine passing through the exhaust pipe comprising: a polarizing container mountable to said pipe and having a first end wall with an inlet and a second end wall with an outlet parallel to said first end wall, said container having a side wall extending therearound with said first end wall and said second end wall mounted thereto; a source of compressed air connected to said container; a source of direct current electrical energy; an induction coil having a core with primary and secondary windings thereon, saiid primary windings being connected to said source of electrical energy, said coil having a spring biased movable contact connected to said primary windings and movable against said core when said core is magnetized; an igniter mounted to said container and projecting therein, said igniter being connected to said secondary windings; and, thermal electrical coils mounted within said container being parallel with said end walls; a pair of inlet deflectors mounted within said container each having a proximal end secured immediately adjacent said first end wall and said side wall, said deflectors have opposed distal ends between which said gases flow, said deflectors project inwardly toward said inlet and away from said first end wall; and, an outlet deflector plate mounted within said container and having a proximal end secured immediately adjacent said second end wall and said second side wall, said outlet deflector projects across said outlet and away from said secured end wall.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said thermal electrical coils are mounted in series and exposed in direct contact with said exhaust gases; and, said apparatus is in combination with an automobile having an internal combustion engine with said exhaust pipe and a muffler, said apparatus is connected to said exhaust pipe between said engine and said muffler; said container is tubular shaped and is of ceramic material; and further comprising: a capacitor connected to said primary windings between said movable contact and said source of electrical energy; a fixed contact connected to said primary windings between said capacitor and said source of direct electrical energy; a spring biasing said movable contact away from said core; an on-off switch connected to said primary windings; an air pipe mounted to said side wall in a direction perpendicular to the flow of said gases from said inlet to said outlet and being connected to said source of compressed air; and, a plurality of insulating pads mounted in said container to said side wall with each of said pads having at least one of said thermal coils mounted thereto and projecting inwardly in said container. 